Don't Fear Math

From TED Radio Hour - Why do many of us hate, even fear math? Why are we convinced we're bad at it? This hour, TED speakers explore the myths we tell ourselves and how changing our approach can unlock the beauty of math. Guests include budgeting specialist Phylecia Jones, mathematician and educator Dan Finkel, math teacher Eddie Woo, educator Masha Gershman, and radio personality and eternal math nerd Adam Spencer.

TED Radio HourThe TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, each show is centered on a common theme such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts, or inexplicable connections.

Don't Fear Math2019-03-14 21:01:22Why do many of us hate, even fear math? Why are we convinced we're bad at it? This hour, TED speakers explore the myths we tell ourselves and how changing our approach can unlock the beauty of math. Guests include budgeting specialist Phylecia Jones, mathematician and educator Dan Finkel, math teacher Eddie Woo, educator Masha Gershman, and radio personality and eternal math nerd Adam Spencer.

Your browser does not support the audio element.

53 minutes, 36 seconds

Don't Fear Math2019-03-14 21:01:22Why do many of us hate, even fear math? Why are we convinced we're bad at it? This hour, TED speakers explore the myths we tell ourselves and how changing our approach can unlock the beauty of math. Guests include budgeting specialist Phylecia Jones, mathematician and educator Dan Finkel, math teacher Eddie Woo, educator Masha Gershman, and radio personality and eternal math nerd Adam Spencer.

Luck, Fortune, And Chance2019-02-28 21:01:23What makes someone lucky? Can luck be controlled, is it random, or is it based on something else entirely? This hour, TED speakers explore ideas about why some people seem so much luckier than others. Guests include former professional poker player Liv Boeree, professor of entrepreneurship Tina Seelig, community activist Amy Hunter, journalist Mark Sutcliffe, and youth services advocate Eshauna Smith.

Gender, Power, and Fairness2019-01-31 21:01:23The Me Too movement has changed the way we think and talk about gender discrimination. This hour, TED speakers explore how the conversation has moved beyond a hashtag, and where we go from here. Guests include Me Too movement founder Tarana Burke, actor and activist Ashley Judd, writer Laura Bates, and anti-sexism educator Jackson Katz.

Approaching With Kindness2019-01-17 21:01:02We often forget to say the words "thank you." But can those two words change how you â and those around you â look at the world? This hour, TED speakers on the power of gratitude and appreciation. Guests include author AJ Jacobs, author and former baseball player Mike Robbins, Dr. Laura Trice, Professor of Management Christine Porath, and former Danish politician Ãzlem Cekic.

The Next Frontier2018-12-20 21:01:23Colonizing Mars or more distant planets seems like science fiction. But becoming a spacefaring species may be in our near future. This hour, TED speakers on living beyond Earth--and whether we should. Guests include NASA Chief Scientist James Green, science writer Stephen Petranek, MIT Media Lab researcher Lisa Nip, and astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz.

Circular2018-12-06 21:01:30We're told if the economy is growing, and if we keep producing, that's a good thing. But at what cost? This hour, TED speakers explore circular systems that regenerate and re-use what we already have. Guests include economist Kate Raworth, environmental activist Tristram Stuart, landscape architect Kate Orff, entrepreneur David Katz, and graphic designer Jessi Arrington.

Where Joy Hides2018-11-15 21:01:21When we focus so much on achievement and success, it's easy to lose sight of joy. This hour, TED speakers search for joy in unexpected places, and explain why it's crucial to a fulfilling life. Speakers include inventor Simone Giertz, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee, journalist David Baron, and musician Meklit Hadero.

Unintended Consequences2018-11-01 21:01:29Human innovation has transformed the way we live, often for the better. But as our technologies grow more powerful, so do their consequences. This hour, TED speakers explore technology's dark side. Guests include writer and artist James Bridle, historians Yuval Noah Harari and Edward Tenner, internet security strategist Yasmin Green, and journalist Kashmir Hill.

Hacking The Law2018-10-11 21:01:18We have a vision of justice as blind, impartial, and fair â but in reality, the law often fails those who need it most. This hour, TED speakers explore radical ways to change the legal system. Guests include lawyer and social justice advocate Robin Steinberg, animal rights lawyer Steven Wise, political activist Brett Hennig, and lawyer and social entrepreneur Vivek Maru.

Building Humane Cities2018-09-27 21:01:07Cities are symbols of hope and opportunity. But today, overcrowding and gentrification are hurting their most vulnerable residents. This hour, TED speakers explore how we can build more humane cities. Guests include architects Liz Ogbu and Vishaan Chakrabarti, writer OluTimehin Adegbeye, former Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, and journalist Drew Philp.

Dying Well2018-09-06 21:01:20Is there a way to talk about death candidly, without fear ... and even with humor? How can we best prepare for it with those we love? This hour, TED speakers explore the beauty of life ... and death. Guests include lawyer Jason Rosenthal, humorist Emily Levine, banker and travel blogger Michelle Knox, mortician Caitlin Doughty, and entrepreneur Lux Narayan.

The Story Behind The Numbers2018-08-16 21:01:17Is life today better than ever before? Does the data bear that out? This hour, TED speakers explore the stories we tell with numbers â and whether those stories portray the full picture. Guests include psychologist Steven Pinker, economists Tyler Cowen and Michael Green, journalist Hanna Rosin, and environmental activist Paul Gilding.

The Right To Speak2018-07-26 21:01:17Should all speech, even the most offensive, be allowed on college campuses? And is hearing from those we deeply disagree with ... worth it? This hour, TED speakers explore the debate over free speech. Guests include recent college graduate Zachary Wood, political scientist Jeffrey Howard, novelist Elif Shafak, and journalist and author James Kirchick.

Why We Hate2018-07-12 21:01:19From bullying to hate crimes, cruelty is all around us. So what makes us hate? And is it learned or innate? This hour, TED speakers explore the causes and consequences of hate â and how we can fight it. Guests include reformed white nationalist Christian Picciolini, CNN commentator Sally Kohn, podcast host Dylan Marron, and writer Anand Giridharadas.

Hidden Potential2018-06-28 21:01:21Often times, it's the loudest voices in the room, rather than the quiet ones, that we pay attention to. This hour, TED speakers explore why we should give the quiet ones a chance.

The Person You Become2018-06-14 21:01:21Over the course of our lives, we shed parts of our old selves, embrace new ones, and redefine who we are. This hour, TED speakers explore ideas about the experiences that shape the person we become. Guests include aerobatics pilot and public speaker Janine Shepherd, writers Roxane Gay and Taiye Selasi, activist Jackson Bird, and fashion executive Kaustav Dey.

Inspire To Action2018-05-17 21:01:26What motivates us to take up a cause, follow a leader, or create change? This hour, TED speakers explore stories of inspirational leadership, and what makes some movements more successful than others. Guests include high school history teacher Diane Wolk-Rogers, writer and behavioral researcher Simon Sinek, 2016 Icelandic presidential candidate Halla TÃ³masdÃ³ttir, professor of leadership Jochen Menges, and writer and activist Naomi Klein.

Decoding Our Emotions2018-03-08 21:01:04We experience powerful emotions all of the time, but what are they exactly? Where do they come from? This hour, TED speakers invoke history, language, science and music to help us think about the way we feel. Guests include writer John Koenig, cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith, psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett, developmental researcher Kang Lee, and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas.

#517 Life in Plastic, Not FantasticOur modern lives run on plastic. It's in the computers and phones we use. It's in our clothing, it wraps our food. It surrounds us every day, and when we throw it out, it's devastating for the environment. This week we air a live show we recorded at the 2019 Advancement of Science meeting in Washington, D.C., where Bethany Brookshire sat down with three plastics researchers - Christina Simkanin, Chelsea Rochman, and Jennifer Provencher - and a live audience to discuss plastics in our oceans. Where they are, where they are going, and what they carry with them. Related links:...